Nomophobia and Smartphone Addiction: Prevalence and Correlation among Healthcare Workers in a Karachi Tertiary Care Setting

Abstract

Objectives: Nomophobia, the fear of being disconnected from mobile communication, is increasingly recognized as a precursor to digital addiction worldwide. As technological advancements introduce novel addictive behaviors akin to traditional substance dependencies, this study investigates the prevalence of nomophobia among healthcare workers (HCWs) at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, and its association with digital addiction. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 171 HCWs at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) in Karachi, selected via convenience sampling. Participants, diverse in age, gender, and profession, completed two validated tools: the 20-item Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) to measure nomophobia severity and the 10-item Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) to assess digital addiction. Data on demographics (age, gender, profession, hospital affiliation) and daily smartphone usage were also collected to explore influencing factors. Results: The study enrolled 171 HCWs with a mean age of 33.7 ± 4.3 years; 34 (19.9%) were under 30 years, and 108 (63.2%) were male. Professional roles included nurses (70, 40.9%), operation theater technicians (30, 17.5%), cardiac perfusionists (20, 11.7%), and anesthesia technicians (15, 8.8%), among others. Severe nomophobia was prevalent in 136 participants (79.5%), while 75 (43.9%) exhibited severe smartphone addiction. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between nomophobia and digital addiction (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study reveals a high burden of severe nomophobia and smartphone addiction among HCWs, with a strong association between the two. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate digital dependency in healthcare settings, particularly in the context of an increasingly digitalized workforce.